Method and means of springing the driving-wheels of cycles, motorcycles, cycle-cars,or the like



E. F. HARMER.

METHOD AND MEANS OF SPRINGING'THE DRIVING WHEELS OF CYCLES. MOTORCYCLES,CYCLE CABS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY7,1919- 1,361,382, Patented Dec. E5320.

5 SHEETS-SH .E. F. HARMER.

METHOD AND MEANS OF SPRINGING THE DRIVING WHEELS 0F CYCLES, MOTORCYCLES,

' CYCLE CARSOR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, I919.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

E. F. HARMER. METHOD AND MEANS OF SPRINGING THE DRIVING WHEELS 0FCYCLES, MOTORCYCLES,

CYCLE CARS OR THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 7| I919.

1 361 382. Patented. Dec. 7, 1920.

FZlglfTS-gEET 3- Z,

. E. F. HARMER. METHOD AND MEANS OF SPRINGING THE DRIVING WHEELS 0FCYCLES, MOTORCYCLES, CYCLE CARS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FlLED JULY 7, 1919.

1,3 1,332, Patefited Dec. 920.

I EETS EE 4.

W #fuM E. F HARMER.

METHOD AND MEANS OF SPRINGING THE DRIVING WHEELS 0F CYCLES, MOTORCYCLES,

CYCLE CARS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATLON 'FILED JULY 7, 1919.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST FREDERICK HARMER, or SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

METHOD AND MEANS= 0F SPRINGING THE DRIVING-\VHEELS 0F CYCLES, MOTOR-CYCLES, CYCLE-CARS, OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 7, 1919. Serial No. 309,094.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EnNEs'r FREDERICK HARMER, subject of the King ofGreat Britain, and residing atGresham Villa, Mansion Road, Southampton,England, civil engi' neer, have invented a certain new and usefulImproved Method and Means of Springing the Driving-Wheels of Cycles,Motorcycles, Cycle-Cars, or the like, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a method and means for springing the drivingwheel of a cycle, motor cycle, cycle car or the like, and has for itsobject to provide an improved device which will'perform the usualfunctions of a spring frame in absorbing vibrations and preventing saidvibrations from being transmitted to the frame of the machine; andfurther will insure that the distance between the wheel spindle and theaxis of the pulley or like driving means will remain unaltered at anyposition of the spring wheel in respect to the frame. The line of traveldescribed by the driving wheel axle is thus constantly concentric withthe engine or gear box pulley, sprocket wheel, or bevel pinion in caseof shaft drive.

To attain this object I utilize a Well known geometrical functionwhereby any two straight lines inclined at an angle to one an other, ifslid along in contact with two fixed points, will at their point ofintersection describe a portion of a circle.

In accordance with my invention I provide at each side of the machinetwo sliding members set at a suitable angle say in a boss or collar intowhich the wheel axle 1s suitably secured, and to arrange that the arede-' scribed by their apex or point of intersection (coincident withthe'boss or the like) shall be concentric to the axis of the pulley orthe like. These sliding members slide through fixed points which areequidistant or substantially so from the said axis.

The said fixed points may be comprised of trunnions suitably disposed inprojecting arms or in a frame piece integral with or fitted at theintersection of the frame back forks. These trunnions are rotatablymounted in hearings in the said frame member so that they may revolvesufficiently to permit the slidin movement of the arms therein throughthe fixed points.

The spring may for example be applied as a helical or volute springbetween one of the fixed points and the part carrying the wheel axle, oras a laminated SPIll'lgbGEtIlIlg upon one of the sllding members or 1nany other manner so that it yieldingly resists the move scribed from theaxis of the driving pulley or the like, and a pair of sleeves are fittedone on each inclined part, and are mounted by knuckle joints to abracket to which the wheel axle is secured. The sleeves and the bracketare thus adapted to slide upon the angle member so that the wheel axledescribes a path substantially concentric with the pulley or like'axis.A spring may be applied in any suitable manner between the bracket andframe to yieldingly resist the sliding movement of the wheel bracket onthe said members or arms.

The drawings show examples of the invention applied to a motor cycleframe in which F igure 1 a side elevation showing one embodiment with ahelical spring arrangement. V r

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the sliding members in the arrangement seenat Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 2 showing the back withspring removed.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing another embodiment of constructionwith helical spring contained in casing.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the sliding members seen at Fig. 4. i

Two sliding members a and Z; at each side of the machine are set at asuitable angle to one another in a boss or collar 0 into which the wheelaxle (Z is suitably secured, as in Fig. 1, or these sliding members maybe set in a frame (2 as in 5 into which a boss or collar is slidablyadjustable in a guide 9 therein and set by bolts h, to adjust thetension on a chain drive, for example. i

The sliding members slide through fixed points 7' and is which areequidistant or substantially so from the axis of the pulley z or likedriving means. The said fixed points j and 7: are comprised of trunnionsZ rotatably mounted in bearings r and s in arms m and a respectively, ina frame piece '0 integral with or fitted at the intersection of theframe back forks p and Q so that the said trunnions may turn inaccordance with the sliding movement of the arms through the fixedpoints. The bearing 8 is slidably adjustable on the arm n to adjust andset the fixed point equidistant from the pulley z or like driving means,and the trunnions Z are laterally adjustable in the bearings r and '8 byscrews 2, and u to compensate for any small errors in assembling, whichscrews after being set to the desired position are secured againstaccidental unscrewing by a screw '0 on the threads.

A helical spring to is applied between the top arm m and the boss orcollar 0 of the frame ,6, and preferably a second helical spring mayalso be fitted below the lower arm 12 held by a pin or the like, at theend of the sliding member 6 for excessive road shocks. Both thesesprings may be inclosed in a casing (not shown), and I may also uselamina-ted springs instead or in conjunction with the devicehereinbefore described.

Laminated springs may also be fitted to the underneath side of the rearfork members to yieldingly resist the upward movement of the arm 6 andthe wheel axle.

The carrier back stay 11 is fixed at the ex tremity of the upperprojecting arm m and is thus sprung equally With the frame, while I thestand 12 may be secured in the usual way to the extremity of theprojecting arm a.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the fixed points 13 and 14L aremounted in independent lugs 15 and 16 respectively joined by a bar ortubular member 17, while said lugs are brazed or otherwise secured onchain stays 18 and 19, and the lug 15 is further bolted or otherwisesecured to the back stay 20. g

A suitable casting 23 incloses the spring 21 and a dust cover 22 ismounted on the top of lug 15' inside which cover will travel the slidingmember a.

I claim V 1. Improved means for springing the driving wheel of a cycle,motor cycle, cycle car, or the like, consisting in mounting the wheel atthe angle of pairs of straight sliding meming wheel of a cycle, motorcycle, cycle car,

or the like, consisting in a boss or the like for receiving a wheel axlearranged at the angle of intersection of two straight sliding members,which members slide through rotatable bearings at fixed points in aframe member equidistant from the axis of the driving means, and aspring between the said boss and the frame member adjacent one of thesaid bearings.

4. Improved means for springing the driving wheel of a cycle, motorcycle, cycle car, or the like, comprising a frame member at each side ofthe wheel carrying pivotal bearings at fixed points equidistant from theaxis of the driving means, a pair of straight members in each framemember set at an angle to each other and sliding in said bearings, aconnection for the wheel axle at the point of intersection of the pairof straight members, and a spring to resist the movement of the wheeland the consequent sliding of said straight members in said bearings.

5. Improved means for springing the driving wheel of a cycle, motorcycle, cycle car, or the like, comprising a frame member at each side ofthe wheel, said frame member carrying pivotal bearings at points fixedequidistant from the axis of the driving means, a pair ofstraightmembers set at an angle to eachother' and sliding in the saidbearings on each side of the wheel on said frame members, a connectionfor the wheel axle at the point of intersection of the pair of straightmembers, and the application of a spring to resist the movement of thewheel and the consequent sliding of said members in said bearings.

6. The improved means for springing the driving wheel of a cycle, motorcycle, cycle car or the like, as in claim 5 with adjustment means forthe said bearings in the frame member substantially asset forth withreference to the drawings.

ERNEST FREDERICK HARMER, F. S; l.

